09 Saturday Mar 2019
Posted in television
Don’t watch this if you don’t want your guts ripped open and your eyes full of tears. I wasn’t sure what to expect… and I didn’t want to believe it. Michael Jackson, musical idol since I was a child (he was one year younger than me). But in the end I do believe those boys, and still cannot think of any possible excuse for the parents. And it brought back so much, too much… so many old feelings. Always believe the children. xx
08 Friday Mar 2019
Posted in casa azahar, cats, home
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I’m sure that Deb has been missing seeing Her Boy, so here are some pics of that lovable big orange doofus Loki being a total snuggle bunny. Here he is, happy as can be, while we netflix together. I think it would be great to be Loki from time to time. His “nuzzle nose in the crook of my arm” gets me every time. 
07 Thursday Mar 2019
Posted in friends, social media
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Demelza @demelzamd and Zoltan @zoltanpolger21 co-owners of Restaurante Salitre in Menorca. I first “met” Demelza online a few years ago when she was working as my friend José Pizarro’s PA in London. At the time Zoltan was also working with José as head chef. Then they moved to Menorca to open their own restaurant. And although they have been in town a few times (Demelza is from a village not far from Sevilla) we have never managed to meet up. UNTIL… yesterday!
I was at Bodeguita Romero, sitting at the bar with two tapas tour clients, and saw this guy kind of eyeballing me from across the room. Then a lovely woman came up and said… are you Shawn? They were just passing through and what luck that we happened to cross paths at the Bodeguita. We had a short chat, since I was working, it really was great to finally meet. Hopefully next time we can go out for a few tapitas and sherry together.
06 Wednesday Mar 2019
Posted in sevilla
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So sad to see this. J.Cuevas Juguetería Técnica, a family business, has closed after 65 years. Manuel Cuevas Álvarez, grandson of the founder, cites a drop in sales due to the “avalanche” of tourists in the centre and the growth of e-commerce as the main reasons for the closure. I’m told that this landmark building will soon house a cocktail bar…
After the loss of Bazar Victoria (twice!) and Confituría Filella, this is yet another story of how tourism and greed are changing the face of Sevilla. Before long it will stop being the very thing that people are flocking here to see. Heartbreaking. Upon seeing my post of this on Instagram yesterday a friend quoted Wilde – “each man kills the thing he loves”. 😦
05 Tuesday Mar 2019
Posted in food & drink, gastronomy, sevilla, wine
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I mean what could be better than an evening hosted by 12 jamón ibérico de bellota producers and 14 wineries, along with some fabulous cheeses? Well NOTHING much that I can think of. I think this is an annual event, though the last time I went was in 2016. It was great catching up with friends while sampling some amazing jamón and terrific wines. In fact, after a few of these wines my pal Esteban (Vermutería Yo Soy Tu Padre) even convinced me into taking a selfie with him. I’ve had worse Mondays!
